Supreme Court Term Opens With Major Cases on Climate, Immigration, and Gun Rights

The Supreme Court began its new term on Monday, with a docket featuring significant cases concerning climate change, religious rights, and President Donald Trump's immigration policies.

The court's agenda includes a major climate change case where energy companies are appealing lower court rulings that sought to hold them liable for damages related to climate change. Billions of dollars are potentially at stake in a lawsuit originating from Boulder, Colorado, where local officials argue the industry should contribute to the costs of climate-related disasters. The companies, Suncor and ExxonMobil, contend that litigation is not the appropriate mechanism for addressing a global issue and have the backing of the Trump administration, which views these lawsuits as an attempt to impose regulatory control over emissions.

Gun Rights and Immigration

The court will also consider cases that could impact gun rights and immigration. Approximately a dozen states have banned semi-automatic rifles, such as the AR-15, citing their frequent use in mass shootings and the potential for such bans to reduce gun violence. Challengers argue these laws infringe upon Second Amendment rights, asserting that these types of firearms are among the most commonly owned in the United States. The court has expanded gun rights in recent years, and the case, expected to be heard in December, could signal further developments in this area.

Two significant immigration cases carry potentially broad implications for the Trump administration's policies. One case involves the deportation of migrants who cannot be swiftly returned to their home countries. The administration has been sending thousands of individuals to third countries where they have no existing ties, often under undisclosed agreements. Lower court orders that allowed these migrants to object have been challenged, and the Supreme Court has permitted these deportations to continue in the interim.

The second immigration case addresses the administration's mandatory detention policy for individuals residing in the U.S. illegally, even if they have lived there for years, without requiring a bond hearing. While the administration asserts its authority to detain individuals without such hearings, most federal appeals courts have disagreed.

Voting Laws and Religious Freedom

The term will also feature a case concerning strict voting laws in Arizona, which require proof of citizenship for voter registration and mandate regular purges of voter rolls if citizenship cannot be verified. This comes as legislative efforts to require documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration have stalled in Congress. Arguments for this case are scheduled for December.

Additionally, the court will hear a case involving Catholic preschools that are barred from participating in a state-funded universal preschool program in Colorado due to their faith-based admissions policies, which exclude children from LGBTQ+ families. Colorado maintains that religious schools are welcome to participate but must adhere to nondiscrimination laws. This case is among the court's latest considerations of religious rights.